Microservices vs. Monolithic Architectures in Real-Time Distributed Systems: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

This article will discuss the differences between microservice and monolithic architecture in real-time distributed architecture. Comparison cuts across theoretical underpinnings, performance attributes, development life cycles, operational issues, and implementation issues. Monolithic architectures are known to be beneficial in terms of simplicity, reduced baseline latency, and reduced communication overheads, and are applicable in applications with predictable workloads and intricate transactional requirements. Microservices, on the other hand, are much more scalable, fault-isolated, and focused on the allocation of resources, especially helpful in systems whose demands are variable and whose functionality evolves. The article discusses the issue of data consistency, overhead in inter-service communication, and state management complexities of distributed architectures, and notes pragmatic hybrid solutions and evolutionary trends that leverage the merits of each paradigm. The choice of architecture is actually determined by a set of constraints of particular projects, the structure of the organization, and the needs of real-time processing, instead of a particular architectural philosophy.